Georgetown man and woman accused of abusing 14-month-old

A Georgetown man and woman have been arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse of a 14-month-old girl, Kentucky State Police said Saturday.

State police said Matthew Clifton, 33, and Kimberly Riggs, 27, were arrested at 9:17 p.m. Friday and lodged in the Scott County Detention Center on the abuse charge. Clifton also was charged with fourth-degree assault domestic violence. The abuse charge is a Class C felony, punishable by five to 10 years in jail.

State police said the Scott County 911 center dispatcher notified Scott County sheriff's deputies at 6:19 p.m. Friday after receiving a call of a man and woman involved in a domestic assault in the parking lot of the Shell gas station on Delaplain Road off of Interstate 75. The couple left together in a car before deputies arrived, state police said.

State police said they were able to communicate with the Scott County 911 system because Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton has provided their vehicles with radio systems to do so.

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State police found the couple at the 125 southbound mile marker on I-75 in Scott County. They said they found inside the car a child needing serious medical attention.

The child was suffering from severe bruising and contusions on her head and legs, severe diaper rash and injuries on her face, and was having trouble breathing and appeared to be malnourished, state police said.

The child was taken to University of Kentucky Children's Hospital in Lexington.

State police said the "team-work approach and the ability to monitor the Scott County 911 system by radio have possibly saved the life of this 14-month-old victim."